"Overall, it finds that people in the US mostly believe the IT industry's server warehouses have a negative effect on the environment, energy costs and local communities, but that they are generally good for local jobs and local tax revenue. Pew says 39 percent of respondents think datacenters are bad for the environment, compared with just 4 percent who believe they are actually beneficial."
"When it comes to energy costs for consumers, 38 percent indicated they thought the AI hothouses had a negative effect. We are surprised this figure isn't greater, considering recent reports that show demand from datacenters is contributing to higher energy bills, questions are being asked by US senators, and President Trump is creating a Ratepayer Protection Pledge to try and address the issue."
"Ironically, the reverse appears to be the reality here. Good Jobs First, a non-profit body focused on corporate and government accountability, found that datacenter developers are benefiting massively from local subsidies in the majority of US states, and those states that do calculate their returns find they are losing money on the deals."
A Pew Research Center survey of 8,512 American adults reveals that 75% have heard of datacenters, with 25% having heard a lot, 50% a little, and 25% nothing. Americans predominantly view datacenters negatively regarding environmental impact (39% negative vs. 4% positive) and energy costs (38% negative). However, they perceive positive effects on local jobs (25% positive) and tax revenue (23% positive). Paradoxically, research from Good Jobs First indicates datacenters heavily rely on local subsidies, with states calculating returns finding they lose money on these deals, contradicting public perception of economic benefits.
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